Agitating parties continue House obstruction
KATHMANDU, Nov 10: Main opposition Nepali Congress (NC) and the ruling CPN-UML have started playing the blame game over delay in the endorsement of the constitution amendment bill and the reconstruction authority bill from Parliament.
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The erstwhile coalition partners have accused each other of not cooperating to pass the two bills at the earliest. The NC has blamed the UML-led government for not expediting the constitution amendment bill, which was registered at the Parliament Secretariat by the erstwhile NC-UML coalition.
Speaking in Parliament on Monday, NC lawmaker Ramkrishna Yadav accused the government of not tabling the constitution amendment proposal which aims to address some of the demands raised by the Madhes protest. "Top guns of the major three parties had expressed their commitment before Parliament to address some of the demands raised in Madhes through constitutional amendment," Yadav said. "The delay in tabling the bill in Parliament is questionable."
The NC-led erstwhile government had registered the amendment proposal. It proposes reorganizing the electoral constituencies, mainly on the basis of population, which is one of the demands of the agitating parties in Madhes. The ruling CPN-UML and UCPN (Maoist) are not satisfied with some of the provisions in the proposal.
On the other hand, UML has accused the NC of not lending a hand to the government for endorsing the reconstruction authority bill, which aims to form a high-level body to carry out reconstruction work in the aftermath of the April-25 earthquake.
Pointing a finger at NC, UML lawmaker Bikash Lamsal accused the opposition of halting the bill in the Bills Committee. "The opposition has been pressing the government to move ahead but placing an obstacle in its way. The government should be allowed to function freely," he said at the Parliament meeting subsequent to NC's Yadav. He also urged the NC not to insist on giving continuity to the appointments made by the previous government.
Speaking in Parliament on Monday, UCPN (Maoist) lawmaker Sita Nepali urged the government to initiate necessary steps for lifting the unofficial blockade by India, resolving the crisis in Madhes through dialogue and endorsing the reconstruction authority bill without delay.
Agitating parties continue House obstruction
Meanwhile, the agitating Madhes-based political parties obstructed Parliament for a second consecutive day on Monday.
Lawmakers from the four political under the umbrella of the United Democratic Madhesi Front (UDMF) and an additional four fringe political parties obstructed Parliament by picketing the well. Federal Socialist Forum Nepal, Tarai Madhes Democratic Party, Shadbhwawna Party and Tarai Madhes Shadbhawana Party are united under UDMF. The front was supported by Tharuhat Tarai Party Nepal, Nepali Janata Dal, Federal Democratic National Forum and Dalit Janajati Party during its protest in Parliament.
"The government seems reluctant still to address the Madhes crisis through dialogue. Our protest will not end unless our demands are addressed," said Tharuhat Tarai Party lawmaker Gopal Dahit.
Parliament has been adjourned till November 22, in view of the Tihar and Chhath festivals
